2-D bar code scanner/decoder having a redundancy canceller
First Claim
1. A hand-holdable bar code scanner/decoder, for decoding a two-dimensional bar code image including a plurality of rows of coded information with a start pattern and row coding, comprising:
- a linear array of image sensing means extending in a first direction for providing undecoded image data representing a first scan across an image area, including said bar code image, transversely to said start pattern and for providing similar undecoded image data representing subsequent such scans as said linear array is moved with arbitrary speed and arbitrary direction transversely to said rows of coded information;
a redundancy canceller, coupled to said linear array, for deleting redundant undecoded image data on a basis utilizing comparison of said image data representing said first scan with said image data representing a subsequent scan, to provide redundancy reduced image data representative of said bar code image;
a storage device, coupled to said redundancy canceller, for storing redundancy reduced image data;
decoder means, coupled to said storage device and operating without access to tracking data representative of either said arbitrary speed or of said arbitrary direction, for decoding said two-dimensional bar code image by use of said redundancy reduced image data, and said start pattern and row coding as appropriate, to derive decoded information; and
an output port, coupled to said decoder means, for coupling said decoded information out of said scanner/decoder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Hand-held devices are provided for both scanning and decoding coded images such as two-dimensional bar codes. A linear scanning array of image sensing elements in the scanner/decoder provides image data with pixel-to-pixel synchronism, but lacking scan-to-scan synchronism as the scanning array is moved transversely across the bar code image. No tracking ball or roller is included to provide data enabling scan-to-scan synchronism. Redundant scan cancellation is employed to delete redundant image data from the stored image, with the adequate representation of coded information taking precedence over storage of a high resolution image. The stored image is sampled to correlate bar code edge pattern elements in order to identify the bounds and orientation of scanned bar code images. The redundancy-reduced stored bar code image is decoded within the hand-held unit, with use of data on bar code bounds and orientation, to provide decoded information for further use. Scanner/decoder devices and methods, and data redundancy reduction methods are described.
175 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A hand-holdable bar code scanner/decoder, for decoding a two-dimensional bar code image including a plurality of rows of coded information with a start pattern and row coding, comprising:
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a linear array of image sensing means extending in a first direction for providing undecoded image data representing a first scan across an image area, including said bar code image, transversely to said start pattern and for providing similar undecoded image data representing subsequent such scans as said linear array is moved with arbitrary speed and arbitrary direction transversely to said rows of coded information; a redundancy canceller, coupled to said linear array, for deleting redundant undecoded image data on a basis utilizing comparison of said image data representing said first scan with said image data representing a subsequent scan, to provide redundancy reduced image data representative of said bar code image; a storage device, coupled to said redundancy canceller, for storing redundancy reduced image data; decoder means, coupled to said storage device and operating without access to tracking data representative of either said arbitrary speed or of said arbitrary direction, for decoding said two-dimensional bar code image by use of said redundancy reduced image data, and said start pattern and row coding as appropriate, to derive decoded information; and an output port, coupled to said decoder means, for coupling said decoded information out of said scanner/decoder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A scanner/decoder, for decoding a coded image including a plurality of parallel rows of coded information of finite row width and extending in a coding direction normal to said row width, comprising:
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a linear array of image sensing means extending in a first direction for providing undecoded image data representing a first scan across an image area, including said coded image, transverse to said row width and for providing similar undecoded image data representing subsequent such scans as said image sensing means is moved with arbitrary speed and arbitrary direction transversely to said coding direction; a redundancy canceller, coupled to said image sensing means, for deleting redundant undecoded image data on a basis utilizing comparison of said image data representing said first scan and said image data representing a subsequent scan, to provide redundancy reduced image data representative of said coded image; an image storage device, coupled to said redundancy canceller, for storing said redundancy reduced image data to provide a stored image representative of said bar code image; decoder means, coupled to said image storage device and operating without access to tracking data representative of said arbitrary speed or arbitrary direction, for decoding said coded image to derive decoded information; and an output port, coupled to said decoder means, for coupling said decoded information out of said scanner/decoder. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method, for using image data which is synchronized for only one dimension to decode a two-dimensional bar code image including a plurality of rows of coded information of finite row width and extending in a coding direction normal to said row width, comprising the steps of:
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(a) scanning an image area including said bar code image by placing a linear array of image sensing elements across said bar code image transversely to said row width to provide undecoded image data representing a first scan across said bar code image; (b) moving said linear array with arbitrary speed and arbitrary direction transversely to said coding direction to provide undecoded image data representing subsequent scans across said bar code image; (c) comparing said step (a) image data representing said first scan with said step (b) image data representing a subsequent scan; (d) cancelling redundant undecoded image data by deletion of image data from one of said first and subsequent scans, if said image data is determined to be redundant, to develop redundancy reduced undecoded image data representative of said bar code image; (e) storing said redundancy reduced undecoded image data representative of said bar code image; (f) decoding said bar code image by use of said stored redundancy reduced undecoded image data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for cancelling redundant image data resulting from scanning of a two-dimensional coded image including a plurality of rows of coded information, each row having a finite width dimension, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing undecoded image data representing a first scan across said coded image transversely to said width dimension; (b) providing undecoded image data representing a plurality of subsequent such scans laterally spaced in said width dimension; (c) comparing said image data representing said first scan to said image data representing a subsequent scan; (d) cancelling redundant undecoded image data by deletion of image data from one of said first and subsequent scans if determined to be redundant when compared in step (c); (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) based upon comparison of image data representing other scans of said plurality of subsequent scans, to provide selected undecoded image data comprising said image data after deletion of redundant image data; and (f) making available from step (e) selected undecoded data, representative of the coded content of said coded image, for further processing. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A hand-holdable bar code scanner/decoder, for decoding a two-dimensional bar code image including a plurality of rows of coded information with a start pattern and row coding, comprising:
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a linear array of image sensing means extending in a first direction for providing undecoded image data representing a first scan across an image area, including said bar code image, transversely to said start pattern and for providing similar undecoded image data representing subsequent such scans as said linear array is moved with arbitrary speed and arbitrary direction transversely to said rows of coded information; a redundancy canceller, coupled to said linear array and arranged to provide redundancy reduced undecoded image data representative of said bar code image and to cancel image data that is redundant to said redundancy reduced undecoded image data; a storage device, coupled to said redundancy canceller, for storing redundancy reduced image data; decoder means, coupled to said storage device and operating without access to tracking data representative of either said arbitrary speed or of said arbitrary direction, for decoding said bar code image; and an output port, coupled to said decoder means, for coupling said decoded information out of said scanner/decoder. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification